Global Relay Wins 2013 BCTIA Community Engagement Award

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Global Relay, the market leader in cloud-based archiving, messaging and compliance services for the financial world, was last Thursday honoured with the British Columbia Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) Community Engagement Award, in recognition of the company’s outstanding corporate citizenship.

Community participation is taken very seriously by Global Relay. Even with most of its business conducted outside of Canada, the company places a high value on maintaining a strong voluntary social contribution to its Vancouver home. Early last year, Global Relay made a five-year, $1 million commitment to reinstate the Gastown Grand Prix cycling race as title sponsor and operator. The storied race, held on the cobblestone streets of Gastown since the 1970s, had earned a spot as a premier destination event on the North American professional cycling circuit, but had not run since 2008 for lack of a sponsor.

The re-launch was a resounding success with more than 150 professional cyclists from around the world competing for Global Relay’s record-setting prize purse right outside the company’s Vancouver headquarters, and tens of thousands of spectators crowding the streets to witness the exhilarating evening of racing. Event management and logistics were led primarily by Global Relay staff, and Global Relay offices were used as a command centre.

This year’s 40th anniversary race takes place on July 10, 2013.

“Funding, managing and watching the Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix was an excellent team-building experience for our staff,” said Warren Roy, Global Relay CEO. “None of us had experience operating a world-class sporting event, but we worked through it together with incredible results. We are so proud to be creating a legacy in Vancouver by reigniting this legendary race, and honoured to be receiving this award from the BCTIA.”

Another component of Global Relay’s commitment to cycling is the Global Relay Bridge the Gap Program, an incubator fund for up-and-coming Canadian cyclists. Twenty-four young riders are part of the 2013 program, which provides funding, coaching and mentorship to support the next generation of athletes during their often-challenging transition from amateur to professional cycling.

Global Relay supports a wide variety of other local and international charitable projects in addition to cycling. These include volunteering at Ronald McDonald House, funding school construction in developing countries though Plan International, and more.

In addition to the BCTIA Community Engagement Award, Global Relay CEO Warren Roy was recently named 2013 Person of the Year by the BCTIA. Earlier this year, Shannon Rogers, Global Relay President & General Counsel was presented with an Influential Women in Business Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and mentoring, and Global Relay was named one of British Columbia’s Most Innovative Companies for 2013 by BCBusiness Magazine. In late 2012, Warren Roy was named BC CEO of the Year by Business in Vancouver magazine. Global Relay was twice named as a Best Place to Work in BC by BCBusiness Magazine (2012 and 2011) and has achieved consecutive top 100 rankings on the Deloitte Fast 500 list of rapidly-growing technology companies in North America.

The Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix is an annual professional cycling race with a cobblestone course and a remarkable heritage. Since Gastown’s very first Grand Prix in 1973, this fast-paced criterium has grown to become one of North America’s best attended and most prestigious races thanks to its historic setting, large prize purses and enthusiastic crowds.

Global Relay’s five-year commitment as Title Sponsor and Operator ensures that the rich tradition of this extraordinary race continues through the 2016 cycling season. The Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix is free for spectators; this year’s race takes place on July 10, 2013 beginning at 5:45pm.

The BC Technology Industry Association is British Columbia's leading member-based industry association that represents start-ups to established technology companies across the province. As the voice of the technology industry, the BCTIA is committed to the ongoing growth, sustainability and prosperity of the technology industry and the transformation of British Columbia to a knowledge-based economy. BCTIA delivers a broad range of programs and services that provide members with opportunities to connect learn and promote their businesses in BC.